The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 46

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[Victor]

I woke to a cold bed and the scent of wolf outside my bedroom door. Echo should have been home by now. The wolf I was smelling wasn’t Grayson.

Flying out of bed, I unlocked my door to find Brandon, one of the guard wolves, pacing in the hallway. He was clearly upset. I went to Echo’s room and threw open the door. She wasn’t there.

“Where is my servant?” I asked sternly.

“She was getting the mail after being dropped off just after noon. The man who jogs every day talked to her for a bit. A van parked a little way down the street. I started walking out to see what was going on, when he punched her and picked her up, running to the van. I never could tell before, but once I caught up, I smelled it. He was a rogue. The van drove off. I ran after them for as long as I could, but the passenger started throwing powdered wolf’s bane out the window. I memorized the van and its plate, but I couldn’t catch up. I called Alpha Trent and he has people on it.” Brandon explained as my anger grew.

“You let someone take Echo.” I growled.

I was furious. These wolves were supposed to take care of her while I slept and they let someone take my Echo from right in front of our home. She trusted them more than I had, but they failed. I failed. I failed to keep her safe.

“Sir, I swear, I did everything I could. We’ll find her and return her to you. I promise. When we find the rogues, we’ll tear them apart for taking her. We all like Echo. We don’t want her to be hurt. I’ve been kicking myself for not moving faster or sensing the danger sooner.” He told me.

“I need to call Marius. It would be best if you weren’t here when he arrives. He already doesn’t like wolves and Echo is like a daughter to him. Go to Trent and figure out what’s going on. Report to me via phone. I can’t leave here until full dark.” I ordered.

“Yes, sir. I’ll leave right away.” He bowed and ran down the hall.

It had been hours. What must those rogues be doing to her? Why did they take her? Was it because I created an alliance with the Hallowed Moon Pack?

Marius would take her from me over this, I knew it. Keeping it from him would be deadly. I checked in the room he would sleep in when visiting, and he wasn’t there. He’d not come to visit since Tuesday.

If I could get her back without him finding out, he would be less likely to take her from me. He was one of the most powerful vampires I knew. I needed that sort of strength. Talia.

I pulled out my phone as I headed to my office. I had the number for the place she was staying and her cell number. I knew she wasn’t supposed to come for another week, but I needed her now. I needed to save Echo.

Once in my office I dialed her cell number and waited as it rang. It felt like the phone rang forever before it was picked up by her voicemail. Damn it. She could be sleeping for all I knew.

Quickly, I dialed the number of the place she was staying. I was hoping she had left her phone somewhere and was actually awake and wandering around like she tended to. The line rang three times before it was picked up.

“Lune Rouge, this is Alpha Lucien.” A powerful male voice answered.

“Alpha, this is Victor Nightshade. I’m the childe of Talia. I’m trying to reach her, but she’s not answering her phone. It’s an emergency and I need to speak with her as quickly as possible.” I said.

“She’s with my mate and children. She probably turned her phone off. I linked and she should be here soon. Is this emergency something that will endanger my mate while she’s there?” He asked.

“I don’t believe so. It does have to do with rogue wolves. I don’t know if she would consider them dangerous as she’s a rogue Queen.” I told him.

“How many?”

“At least three.” I responded.

“Three is no concern for my Bellamy. Are you needing them there sooner? I need to know so I can get everyone prepared while you speak to Talia.” Lucien said.

“You’re very obliging for an Alpha wolf.” I observed.

“Talia is a dear friend to my mate. If not for her, Bellamy would have probably died before I got the chance to meet her. I love my mate dearly and that love extends to those who helped her live and grow into the woman she is. Now, tell me so I can get things moving.” He insisted.

“I will need them sooner. Some rogues have taken the girl they’re coming to train. I don’t know what they intend to do to her. It’s been about five hours since she was taken. Every minute she’s gone means a higher chance they could kill her.” I told him.

“No. If rogues took her, instead of killing her right there, they want something from her. There’s a good chance you’ll find her alive. The fact that it was several and not one means it’s not an obsessed ex-pack looking for a forced mate. They may just be waiting for evening to contact you for a ransom.” Lucien assured me.

“I hope it’s just that, but I need her able to protect herself. The wolves who were supposed to take care of her failed. I need Echo to be safe. I took her from a horrible situation, I promised her she would be safe with me.” I admitted.

“You feel like you failed her. I get that. You care for the vampires in your territory, I care for the wolves in mine. There are those who need us more than others and when you can’t keep them protected it feels like a failure as the person they look to. I’m sure she won’t see it that way. You may be a vampire, but you’re just a man. You aren’t all powerful. This isn’t something you could have stopped, they took her in the middle of the day. Here’s Talia.” He said.

For all that his talk was making me feel better, I was still hurting. I didn’t know where my Echo was. She could be… they could be… I didn’t want to think of the things rogue wolves could do to a defenseless girl.